Your Senior Year Timeline

September-November
Keep taking those challenging classes and do well. Beware of that "senior slump".

Have a list of the schools you want to apply to and gather all the applications. Weed through and get a final list.

Have a list of the college's deadlines!

Register and apply for scholarships now!

Ask your teachers for their recommendation letters. They'll be swamped come December but if you get in early you'll get a more thoughtful fresh one.

Brainstorm your essay topics.

Submit Early Action applications, they're usually due Nov. 1

Dec.-Feb.

Send out your applications! Don't forget to include everything they ask.

Keep applying for scholarships.

Don't let your grades drop. School may rescind their acceptance if they see significant grade slippage.

March-May

You're almost done~ Just wait it out until you get your acceptance letters.

If you are waitlisted, write the school a letter to show you're still interested.

Make a decision. Make sure it's your decision. You'll have to attend the school so make sure you like it.

Go to all freshman orientation activities. They'll make you feel more welcome and excited for the fall.

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Freshman Orientation

1. Show up. Go to orientation. Even if everyone in your family has gone to this school, go. You're not going for the rich history lesson.
2. Go alone. Don't go with the parents or friends. It'll be scary but you will be more willing to branch out.
   
3. Talk and smile to everyone. Be friendly.
4. Study the map of the campus and get a good sense of where you are. It'll save you time when you start class and have to be somewhere in a hurry.
5. Ask your orientation leaders and other students about classes you are considering taking before you sign up. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches later on.